In October 2022, Victoria University (VU) and Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) entered into a partnership aimed at boosting those in the workforce who support the estimated 1-in-70 Australians on the autism spectrum.
Aspect is Australia’s largest provider of autism-specific services and school programs. This alliance will be their first partnership with a university on its campus – with VU and Aspect demonstrating a shared commitment to empowering the communities they serve.
First on-campus Aspect community centre in Australia
Student placement and employment pathways into the disability sector
Education opportunities for Aspect participants into VU courses
Aspect is the country’s largest autism-specific service provider, with one of the biggest autism-specific school programs in the world. A not-for-profit organisation, they work with people of all ages on the autism spectrum as well as their families and carers to deliver family-focused and person-centered solutions informed by evidence.
Aspect’s mission is to understand, engage and celebrate the strengths, interests and aspirations of people on the autism spectrum so that they can reach their highest potential.
The ground-breaking partnership between Aspect and Victoria University will aim to achieve many critical outcomes and improve health and wellbeing for people on the autism spectrum, while investing in the future of our disability services workforce.
Aspect has now opened Australia’s first on-campus community centre for Autistic adults at Victoria University’s St Albans campus. The centre pioneers a new model on campus, providing positive outcomes for both adult participants through programs, therapy and education, and VU students through placements and employment pathways into the disability sector. Participants can also acquire valuable job and independent living skills by engaging in programs and activities across the University’s state-of-the-art facilities.
Alongside the Aspect centre at VU’s St Albans campus, VU and Aspect will focus on the following through this partnership:
Courses set to offer placements at Aspect include:
VU has a range of disability and accessibility services, focused on making our university a safe and inclusive place to study, work and visit.
We’re always working towards improvement and aiming to provide new accessibility services in line with our Student Accessibility Action Plan 2021-2023.
Learn more and access our disability and accessibility services, including developing an Access Plan with an Accessibility Liaison Officer, finding course materials, technology and equipment, and campus maps.
To find out more about this partnership, please contact:
Major Partnerships
Engagement & Advancement
Email: majorpartnerships@vu.edu.au
